The students' union at Cape Breton University is endorsing an internet site that offers Canadian students the chance to win free tuition by playing poker.

President Matt Stewart said the group is promoting a fast way to pay for ever-increasing university costs, not promoting gambling.

"It's the same as when we have a night where we give away free bursaries," he told CBC News. "There's a competition. You pay no money and you have a chance to win, you know, a $200 bursary.

"If it was another game it may not have the same hype about it being gambling."

To play, students have to go to a website to register online, then download the software. They can then play in poker tournaments for a chance to win free tuition and other prizes.

The students' union is spreading the word about the college poker tournament through its Facebook site.

With tuition at nearly $5,700 a year, Stewart plans to play. He said he's not concerned about students getting hooked on gambling by taking part.

"I think there's going to be other factors to influence people to gamble," said Stewart.

Young adults between the ages of 19 and 24 have the highest risk of becoming problem gamblers, according to statistics from the Nova Scotia Gaming Corp.

Over the last two years, the Crown corporation has targeted university and college campuses with a gambling awareness program called Know the Score, alerting students about the signs of gambling addiction and where to go for help.

Gaming Corp. spokeswoman Krista Grant said she can't comment on the poker site specifically.

"However, I will say that we are increasingly concerned about the explosive growth of unregulated sites because they don't offer the same strict player protections that legal, regulated sites do," she said.